Trudeau Acknowledges Khalistani Supporters in Canada, Emphasizes They Don’t Represent Entire Sikh Community

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly acknowledged the presence of Khalistani supporters in Canada, clarifying that these individuals do not represent the entire Sikh community. Speaking at a Diwali event on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Trudeau emphasized that, similarly, there are Hindu supporters of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Canada, but they do not speak for all Hindu Canadians.

This admission aligns with India’s long-standing stance that the Canadian government has harbored pro-Khalistani elements. Trudeau’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between Canada and India following the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a wanted Khalistani separatist in India, who was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. In September 2023, Trudeau alleged possible involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s killing, accusations that India categorically denied as “absurd” and “baseless.”

Relations soured further in October 2024, when Canada identified Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as a “person of interest” in the investigation into Nijjar’s death. India responded by recalling its own High Commissioner from Ottawa and expelling six Canadian diplomats.

Trudeau’s comments reflect an attempt to address the diversity of political views within Canadian communities of Indian descent, while acknowledging the complex diplomatic strain between Canada and India.